Laughlin/Bullhead International (KIFP) radio calls

Towered airport with a Class D surface area

Sample calls at KIFP

Laughlin/Bullhead International has a Class D surface area: establish two-way communication with the tower before entering (AIM 3-2-5 b 3). A reply that uses your call sign, even "standby", establishes it; "aircraft calling, standby" does not. The calls below use runway 16; the tower assigns the runway in use on the day.

The aircraft is the AIM’s own example, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot; the squawk codes, altitudes and headings are illustrative. Frequencies, station names and runway numbers are this airport’s, from the FAA data.

1. Listen to the ATIS on 119.825 first and note the letter; "with Information (letter)" on your first call lets the controller skip the weather (JO 7110.65 3-10-1).
2. YouBullhead Tower Ground, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, at the ramp with Information Alpha, request taxi, VFR departure to the north.
3. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Bullhead Tower Ground, runway one six, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one six.
4. YouRunway one six, taxi via Alpha, hold short of runway one six, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
5. The runway, any clearance onto a runway and every hold-short instruction are read back (AIM 4-3-18 a 9). Stay on Ground through the run-up and switch to Tower when ready (AIM 4-3-14 a).
6. YouBullhead Tower Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, holding short runway one six, ready for departure, northbound.
7. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Bullhead Tower Tower, runway one six, cleared for takeoff.
8. YouRunway one six, cleared for takeoff, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
9. Inbound: call the tower about 15 miles out, before the Class D boundary (AIM 4-3-2 a).
10. YouBullhead Tower Tower, Cessna Three One Six Zero Foxtrot, one five miles north, three thousand, with Information Bravo, landing Bullhead Tower.
11. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, Bullhead Tower Tower, enter left downwind runway one six, report midfield downwind.
12. YouEnter left downwind runway one six, report midfield, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
13. YouBullhead Tower Tower, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, midfield left downwind, runway one six.
14. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, runway one six, cleared to land, wind two seven zero at eight.
15. YouRunway one six, cleared to land, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
16. The wind is information: acknowledged, not read back. Exit at the first available taxiway or as told, taxi clear of the hold-short markings, and change to Ground only when the tower says (AIM 4-3-21).
17. ATCCessna Six Zero Foxtrot, exit at the next taxiway, contact Bullhead Tower Ground one one eight point two five.
18. YouExit next taxiway, one one eight point two five, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot.
19. YouBullhead Tower Ground, Cessna Six Zero Foxtrot, clear of runway one six, taxi to the ramp.

If things change. The tower operates 0800-1800 local. Outside those hours the airport is a non-towered field: self-announce on the CTAF, 123.9 with the airport name first and last, and the surface area reverts to Class E or Class G as published in the Chart Supplement.

Phraseology from AIM 4-2-3; 4-3-18 a 9; 4-3-14; 4-3-21; 4-4-7 b; 4-1-18 a 3; 3-2-5 b 3; 4-3-2 a. What TowerTalk grades against →

The calls you will make here

• How to call Ground for taxi →
• Calling the tower inbound →
• Line up and wait, cleared for takeoff, cleared to land →
• First time flying into a Class D airport →
• How to read the ATIS →

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